"Scott Shirley" wrote in
news:dtmqc.111140$Ik.9057297@attbi_s53:


I am new to boating and purchased a 1996 model with an 5.7L inboard
last spring. What maintenance do I need to perform after
de-winterizing the boat?

Oil Change ( I have no idea if/when the previous owner had it changed)
Belts?
Hoses?
Any other fluids, filters, or things that need to be changed/adjusted?


Larry W4CSC wrote:

I-M-P-E-L-L-E-R in the water pump. Sure beats an overheated, seized engine
12.8 miles from the trailer/dock/shop up some creek.....

Give it a new one every year and never run out of COOLING WATER....(c;

Larry

Good advice on the impeller. Many people have caused themselves major repair bills by overheating
their motor without realizing it.

Now a little more information that most people should ignore, but some will find interesting. Those
little rubber impellers are good for a lot longer than most people think as long as your running
them in clean water. My 1996 Maxum still has the _factory_ impeller in it (8 years old now). I
crack the lower unit and inspect it every year, and I even have a brand new overhaul kit (impeller
and metal sleeve) sitting on the shelf. So far, I haven't been able to bring myself to replace the
impeller because the sleeve is smooth, and the factory one still looks as good as the replacement
I'd be putting in. Its not like it hasn't gotten any use either, because our hobbs is now showing
over 250 hours. I suspect that since the boat is primarily run from a marina slip in a deep
clearwater lake (Lake Travis), that it just hasn't had much sediment run through it, and that the
sand and sediment is really what kills the impellers.

A more experienced friend of mine tells me that it is living on borrowed time, but I'll be darned if
I'm going to change it out as long as it remains flexible, and doesn't show much wear.

BTW, I'm not advising anyone else to try this...

YMMV,

Don W.